Denver Nuggets offseason recap: Quiet summer in the Mile High City
With the bulk of NBA free agency in the books, USA TODAY Sports explores how all of the offseason moves will alter each team as we look ahead to the 2016-17 season.
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Projected starting five: Denver Nuggets
(Statistics from 2015-16 season)
- Emmanuel Mudiay - Points: 12.8, assists: 5.5, rebounds: 3.4, steals: 1.0, field goal percentage: 36.4%
- Gary Harris - Points: 12.3, rebounds: 2.9, assists: 1.9, steals: 1.3, field goal percentage: 46.9%
- Danilo Gallinari - Points: 19.5, rebounds: 5.3, assists: 2.5, steals: 0.8, field goal percentage: 41.0%
- Kenneth Faried - Points: 12.5, rebounds: 8.7, assists: 1.2, blocks: 0.9, field goal percentage: 55.8%
- Nikola Jokic - Points: 10.0, rebounds: 7.0, assists: 2.4, blocks: 0.6, field goal percentage: 51.2%
Added - Jamal Murray, Juan Hernangomez, Malik Beasley, Petr Cornelie, Joffrey Lauvergne, Darrell Arthur (re-signed), Mike Miller (re-signed)
Lost - D.J. Augustin
Biggest acquisition - Murray
In one of the quietest offseasons in the NBA, the Nuggets drafted Murray (No. 7), Hernangomez (No. 15), Beasley (No. 19) and Cornelie (No. 53) and retained veterans Arthur and Miller. Murray, a three-point shooting combo guard out of Kentucky, has the potential to be a great fit alongside (or behind) Mudiay in Denver's young backcourt.
Biggest departure - Augustin
The Nuggets' biggest, and only, offseason loss was Augustin, an NBA journeyman who averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 assists in 28 games with Denver last season. He's a solid veteran backup point guard, no doubt, but his decision to sign with the Orlando Magic for four years, $29 million isn't one the Nuggets will be losing too much sleep over.
X factor - Mudiay
As can be expected from a 19-year-old drafted out of the Chinese Basketball Association, Mudiay had a roller-coaster ride of a rookie season in which he most notably struggled with his shooting (36.4%) and ball control (3.2 turnovers per game). But with his struggles came progress, as can be seen by his pre-All-Star, post-All-Star splits. Assuming he continues to put in the work and can pick up where he left off last season, the Nuggets have a lot to look forward to from their franchise cornerstone.
Offseason grade - B+
Check out our other offseason recaps: Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Dallas Mavericks
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